Watauga County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Watauga County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 257 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Watauga County compares with North Carolina
Watauga County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Watauga County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Watauga County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.8 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 32% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.6% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 6.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.1% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 9.7% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 53% below the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Watauga County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above North Carolina on on snow, slush or ice, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Watauga County: 10.6% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Watauga County has recorded 257 truck crashes since 2015, with 119 people injured and 7 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 15 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is November with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 5.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.1% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (11.3%).
10.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Watauga County since 2015 were spread across roads: E King St (1), SR-105 (1), SR-194 (1), Ssr-1529 Blackberry Rd (1) and US-321 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.9% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Watauga County fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Watauga County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.8% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 10.6% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2022 and 2024; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Watauga County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Watauga County) |
|---|---|
| E King St | 1 |
| SR-105 | 1 |
| SR-194 | 1 |
| Ssr-1529 Blackberry Rd | 1 |
| US-321 | 1 |
| US-421 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Watauga County) |
|---|---|
| Blowing Rock Rd | 16 |
| Hwy 105 Ext | 9 |
| E King St | 7 |
| Nc 105 | 3 |
| US-421 | 3 |
| W King St | 3 |
| Chestnut Dr | 2 |
| Reynolds Parkway | 2 |
Watauga County at a glance
| Population | 54,997 |
| Land area | 312.4 sq mi |
| Density | 176 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $53,893 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Watauga County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 23 | +13% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 24 | +4% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 20 | -17% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 21 to 20. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Watauga County
ZIP codes in Watauga County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Watauga County
How common are truck crashes in Watauga County?
Watauga County has had 257 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 119 people and killing 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Watauga County?
November has the most truck crashes in Watauga County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Watauga County?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Watauga County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Watauga County compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Watauga County records 43.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Watauga County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2022 and 2024; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.